Process and system for subscription sharing between a plurality of radiotelephony terminals

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process and a system for subscription sharing between a plurality of radiotelephone terminals ( 20 a to 20 e ), with a unique telephone number associated with the plurality of terminals. In particular, the process is characterised in that it includes a first step wherein a manager shares out a period of access to a radiotelephony network, under the subscription, into time slots and wherein the manager allocates specific time slots to each terminal ( 20 a to 20 e ), the time slots allocated to the different terminals ( 20 a to 20 e ) not overlapping, a second step wherein the time slots specific to each terminal ( 20 a to 20 e ) are transmitted ( 53 a , 53 b ) from one or more synchronisation servers ( 1 ) to each terminal ( 20 a to 20 e ), and a third step wherein the specific time slots are stored in the memory of each terminal ( 20 a to 20 e ) to which said time slots have been allocated. The invention also relates to a system allowing the process to be implemented.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Process of sharing a subscription between a plurality of terminals fitted with radiotelephony means, characterised in that it includes a first step wherein a manager shares out a period of access to a radiotelephony network, under the subscription, into time slots, and wherein the manager allocates specific time slots to each terminal, the time slots allocated to the different terminals not overlapping, a second step wherein the time slots specific to each terminal are transmitted from one or more synchronisation servers to each terminal, and a third step wherein the specific time slots are stored in a memory of each terminal to which said time slots have been allocated.  
     
     
         2 . Process according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the memory of each terminal is a SIM card.  
     
     
         3 . Process according to  claim 1 , characterised in that it includes a step wherein the clock of each terminal is synchronised, at set intervals, with that of the servers synchronising and storing clock data in the terminal memory.  
     
     
         4 . Process according to  claim 3 , characterised in that the synchronisation step consists of the transmission, from one or more synchronisation servers to each terminal, of a synchronisation message containing the date and time of the clock of the synchronisation server or servers clock, then of a step wherein this message is processed by the circuits of each terminal and the programme so as to update the clock of each terminal.  
     
     
         5 . Process according to  claim 3 , characterised in that the synchronisation step consists in updating the clocks of the synchronisation servers and of each terminal from GPS systems connected to the synchronisation servers and to each terminal.  
     
     
         6 . Process according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the process includes a step wherein each terminal connects to the radiotelephony network, triggered by a monitoring programme portion of each terminal, when said terminal is in a time slot that is allocated to it.  
     
     
         7 . Process according to  claim 6 , characterised in that it includes a step wherein each terminal disconnects from the radiotelephony network at the end of the time slot that is allocated to it, triggered by a monitoring programme portion of each terminal.  
     
     
         8 . Process according to  claim 3 , characterised in that it includes a step wherein data is transmitted, via the radiotelephony network, from each terminal to one or more application servers, when said terminal is in a time slot where it is connected to the radiotelephony network, the data containing the data on the clock and on the physical quantities, measured or input at pre-set intervals using measurement or input means.  
     
     
         9 . Process according to  claim 7 , characterised in that it includes a step wherein each application server is synchronised with the synchronisation servers by sending a synchronisation message from the synchronisation servers to each application server.  
     
     
         10 . Process according to  claim 7 , characterised in that it includes a step wherein each terminal is contacted by at least one synchronisation server or one application server in the time slot that is allocated to said terminal, consisting of the sending of a message including new time slots and/or new synchronisation information, or allowing the data exchange between said terminal and the application server to be activated.  
     
     
         11 . Process according to  claim 6 , characterised in that it includes, when a terminal is in a time slot where it is connected to the radiotelephony network, a step wherein data transmission time is requested by said terminal from at least one synchronisation server, followed by a step wherein transmission time is allocated to said terminal by the synchronisation server for exchanging data with at least one application server, the data transmission time using a second subscription.  
     
     
         12 . Process according to  claim 6 , characterised in that it includes, when a terminal is in a time slot where it is connected to the radiotelephony network, a step wherein a compulsory data transmission time is allocated by at least one synchronisation server to said terminal, so that said terminal exchanges data with at least one application server.  
     
     
         13 . System allowing the process according to the invention to be implemented, characterised in it includes at least one synchronisation server and one application server, the synchronisation server including at least computing means allowing a period of access to a radiotelephony network by a plurality of radiotelephone terminals to be managed and defined and a memory allowing time slots allocated to each terminal to be recorded, and the application server including at least computing means allowing data transmitted by each terminal to be managed and a memory allowing this data to be recorded.  
     
     
         14 . System according to  claim 13 , characterised in that the synchronisation server is merged with the application server.  
     
     
         15 . System according to  claim 13 , characterised in that the synchronisation server is connected to a radiotelephony network and comprises means for transmitting, to each terminal sharing the same subscription, the data defining the time slots that have been allocated to it.  
     
     
         16 . System according to  claim 13 , characterised in that each radiotelephone terminal includes means for transmitting data stored in a memory of said terminal, representing physical quantities measured at set intervals by measurement means connected to said terminal, and also date and time transmission means.  
     
     
         17 . System according to  claim 13 , characterised in that all the terminals have an identical SIM card.  
     
     
         18 . System according to  claim 13 , characterised in that each terminal may be connected to a GPS-type synchronisation system.